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Record lottery sales in March

Excitement over the Mega Millions lottery jackpot helped the Minnesota State Lottery set an all-time sales record last month. The lottery took in $61.6 million in March.

In addition to Mega Millions sales, Minnesota State Lottery Director Ed Van Petten said the sales record can be traced to almost $40 million of scratch-off ticket sales in March.

"Obviously March was the best selling month we've had in the history of the lottery, some of that can be attributed to the Mega Millions and the world record jackpot," Van Petten said. "And we also set a record for scratch tickets sales also and our other lotto games were up."

The March sales helped the lottery recoup revenue it missed out on when state government was shut down last year. The previous two months have been some of the best in the lottery's 22-year history.

About a quarter of each lottery dollar goes back to the state. Van Petten said lottery-players should still exercise restraint.

"It's important that the lottery should be looked at as entertainment and that people should play it very responsibly and not play if they can't afford it," Van Petten said.